By the late twentieth century, Mauser was a legendary identify trying to find relevance. As soon as synonymous with among the most influential army small arms in historical past, the German agency entered the Eighties with no clear imaginative and prescient for what got here subsequent. One of many ultimate, and largely forgotten, makes an attempt to maintain the Mauser handgun legacy alive was the Mauser Mannequin 80 SA, a licensed Browning Hello-Energy clone constructed not in Germany, however in Hungary.
A latest Forgotten Weapons video that includes Ian McCollum, filmed at Morphy Auctions, affords a uncommon, shut take a look at this pistol and the story behind it.
Mauser M80SA
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After World Conflict II, Mauser by no means really recovered its footing as a small-arms producer. Whereas the Mauser identify remained highly effective, the corporate struggled to supply profitable new designs. There have been experiments with submachine weapons within the Nineteen Fifties and Nineteen Sixties, and later makes an attempt to resurrect traditional pistols just like the Luger and the Mauser HSc for the business market—significantly in america by means of companions like Interarms.
None of those efforts delivered lasting success. By the late Eighties, Mauser’s administration more and more turned to a distinct technique: outsourcing manufacturing completely and promoting firearms made by different firms underneath the Mauser banner. Italian agency Renato Gamba was one such companion. One other, extra consequential one, was FÉG of Hungary.
The Hungarian Hello-Energy Connection
In 1973, FÉG legally acquired a license and tooling from FN to fabricate the Browning Hello-Energy. This was not a crude reverse-engineered clone, however a reliable licensed manufacturing. FÉG marketed the pistol domestically because the P9 and in addition produced it for export.
In 1990, Mauser contracted FÉG to supply two pistols: the Mannequin 80 and the Mannequin 90. The Mannequin 80 SA was basically a duplicate of the Browning Hello-Energy marked with Mauser branding and supposed for each European and U.S. business markets.
Whereas the slide and body learn “Mauser Werke Oberndorf GmbH,” there was no exterior indication of Hungarian manufacture. Solely refined proof marks on the barrel and set off guard reveal FÉG’s position.
A Hello-Energy With a Twist
Mechanically, the Mauser 80 SA is pure Hello-Energy. It makes use of customary Hello-Energy magazines with 13-round capability and accepts prolonged magazines with out challenge. Discipline-stripping is equivalent to FN and Browning examples, and inner elements are largely interchangeable.
There may be, nevertheless, one notable distinction that many shooters would think about an enchancment: the absence of {a magazine} disconnect security.
Conventional Hello-Powers incorporate {a magazine} security that stops the pistol from firing with no journal inserted. Whereas supposed as a security function, it’s extensively criticized for degrading set off pull high quality. Many critical shooters take away it completely. The Mauser 80 SA comes from the manufacturing unit with out one, leading to a cleaner set off and eliminating the necessity for modification.
From a shooter’s standpoint, that makes the Mannequin 80 arguably extra fascinating than many manufacturing unit Hello-Powers of the identical period.
Restricted Manufacturing, Restricted Attraction
Regardless of these deserves, the Mauser 80 SA was by no means a business hit. Manufacturing ran from 1990 to 1995. Serial numbers reportedly ended round 4,200, suggesting Mauser’s anticipated larger demand that by no means materialized.
That lack of success will not be obscure. By the early Nineties, the handgun market had moved on. Double-action/single-action pistols, polymer frames, higher-capacity magazines, and trendy ergonomics dominated each law-enforcement and civilian markets. Glock, SIG Sauer, Beretta, and others had been defining a brand new period.
In that context, promoting a steel-framed, single-action pistol primarily based on a 1935 design, even one as confirmed because the Hello-Energy, was a tricky promote. Shoppers might purchase unique Browning or FN Hello-Powers, surplus pistols, or newer designs providing tangible benefits.
The Finish of Mauser Small Arms
The failure of the Mannequin 80 underscored a broader actuality: Mauser not had a viable path ahead in small-arms manufacturing. In 1999, the corporate shut down its firearms manufacturing operations completely and offered off its emblems.
Satirically, these emblems, together with Mauser, ultimately ended up underneath company umbrellas related to different well-known gunmakers. At this time, the Mauser identify nonetheless exists, however largely indifferent from the unique firm that made it iconic.
Why the Mannequin 80 Issues At this time
From a sensible perspective, the Mannequin 80 is a high-quality, licensed Hello-Energy with wonderful construct high quality and a function set many shooters favor. From a collector’s standpoint, its restricted manufacturing numbers and strange backstory make it much more attention-grabbing than its modest business success would recommend.
The Mauser 80 serves as a reminder that model legacy alone will not be sufficient. Firearms historical past is stuffed with examples of failures to adapt proving deadly, no matter previous achievements.
About Duncan Johnson:
Duncan Johnson is a lifelong firearms fanatic and a powerful defender of the Second Modification, the place “shall not be infringed” means precisely what it says. A graduate of George Mason College, he enjoys competing in native USPSA and multi-gun competitions each time he’s not protecting the newest in gun rights and firearm coverage. Duncan is an everyday contributor to AmmoLand Information and serves as a part of the editorial workforce accountable for AmmoLand’s each day gun-rights reporting and trade protection.
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